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Month: October 2015

As with all things in life, when one chapter closes, another one opens.

I’m moving back down to San Diego.

When I write the word “back,” I initially feel like I’m giving a sense of defeat…I’m moving “back” home because I couldn’t hack it here where I am in San Francisco. But that’s not the truth. And the truth is, I am moving back to San Diego. I grew up there and spent a year there after I graduated college.

The decision has been brewing for a while and this past week it was made official official. (As opposed to just “official.” lol) Official official because I told my boss on Thursday that I was leaving.

Pearl and Daisy are certainly coming along.

This was a really difficult conversation because I love, respect and care for my boss so much. I love my job at the clinic and it truly is my family and second home here in the city. But the conversation was fine, full of laughter, understanding and figuring out the next few steps for hiring another person, etc. I’m very fortunate that I can keep working remotely for them when I’m in SD. It’s work I love and I still get to stay in touch with some of my favorite people.

The movers have been hired and I’m still sitting in this space where the decision is really starting to hit me.

And I’m fucking excited. It’s bittersweet to leave a place I’ve been for the past year, say good-bye to my amazing community and work here, but the truth is, San Francisco just isn’t my city.

I could tell over the past couple months I needed a shift and change…but I didn’t know what it was. I was constantly vacillating between staying here and moving down to SD, getting another job (or part-time job) in SF to help financially, finding a job in SD and then moving down…but the indecision kept me caught in limbo. And it was starting to really stress me out. I would have these mini panic attacks, usually in the morning, and feel so overwhelmed with emotions I couldn’t even identify. I knew I needed to be decisive and then take action from there.

View of the ocean on the 101 Highway, between Encinitas and Cardiff.

I had so many voices in my head about what I should do and what I was expected to do, that I had to take a step back from everything, identify my voice and what I wanted from my life…not what other people suggested or wanted me to do. Or what I thought they wanted me to do.

About a month or so was spent journaling my heart out, meditating, conversations with my counselor and finally I gained more clarity. What did I want? It’s such a simple question, but one that makes you answer honestly and then…BAM. There’s your answer.

So what did I want? I wanted to move to San Diego. By the end of the year. Job or no job.

Ok then. Let’s do it.

So much ease, relief, happiness and calm came once I made the decision. Sometimes the best thing we can do for ourselves is make a decision and then take action from there. Not take action based off indecision like I was trying to before (aka a half-assed job search in SF and SD).

I don’t have a job lined up in SD, I don’t have an apartment, but I don’t care. I have 5 weeks until I move down and a lot can happen during that time. I’ve seen my life completely change- job and city- within 30 days twice already. Five week? Psh. That’s an extra week ;)

I’m looking for jobs, but also looking into freelancing and social media management as much as I can. I really want time freedom to do things that fill me with passion and happiness. Travel, theatre, designing my days the way I want to. I currently have a few gigs, including working remotely for the clinic, that will sustain me financially…at least for now. (Eeeeek. lol)

Truth be told though, I really have no idea what I want to do. I’m continually getting down on myself for this, what I see as, lack of purpose, direction, drive and decision. I know exactly the kind of lifestyle I want, the things that make me filled with happiness and passion and laughter, what I want my life to look like…but right now there is a disconnect between what I’m doing presently and how to get to what and where I envision my life to be. But it’s so close I can almost taste it.

I know clarity will come with time and, as my counselor has told me countless times, I need to give myself the space to let that clarity come. It always does. And when I get clarity…holy shit man, I GO for it. Take action and make it happen in a very short amount of time.

But it’s not something I can force, I have to let it happen with natural and intuitive ease. So what I have to keep reminding myself to do in the interim is continue to take action and be productive in ways that feels natural and right and give myself the space for clarity to come. It always will. Stay true and connected to MY authentic voice and follow what I know is right for me.

In other words, focus on the “what” and “why” and not the how. Because, let’s be real, that always fucks things up. lol

Anyways, I guess the only other thing I have to say is how freaking excited I am for this move. It’s simply the right time. All my family is in SD, I love my community and friends there, I love the lifestyle and vibe…it’s just me.

What is also exciting (and at times induces mild panic until I remind myself to practice what I preach) is the fact that this is a completely blank, new chapter. I have an outline of what I want and know my life will be like, but it’s completely open and blank. I’m moving down to SD on December 7th and, as of now, that’s all I’ve got. My life is in my hands. Completely open to my design and I can create whatever I wish. It’s new and fresh and waiting to be transformed in ways that I want and know, and in ways I don’t yet know. It’s so exciting! Not scary at all. Yes, maybe a little stressful when I start over-thinking it all…but mainly exciting because it’s such a fresh new “beginning” (or continuation?) and San Diego is really where I want to be. I think I’ll be able to breathe a sigh of relief when I finally land in the place I know I am meant to be.

And with that, I’m going to finish my coffee and pumpkin bread and get ready for Halloweeeeeeeeeen! I’m going to be a cat :) Well, let’s be real, a slutty cat. Classily slutty. If that’s a thing. LOL

I think we all have this expectation that when we have a meltdown, we’ll somehow look like the Disney princesses as they flawlessly toss their heads into their arms and do a few snot-free, back-heaving sobs. Who are then suddenly surrounded by their small woodland friends, all of whom have a vocabulary larger than mine, who comfort them in their weaker moments.

But “flawless” was the furthest thing from my meltdown today as I found myself sitting in my car, full-on sobs, nose running, eyes dripping and with nothing to wipe my face with other than the sleeve of my woolen-ish sweater (ew) and my hands.

If you’re like me, you can kind of tell when a mini-meltdown will be happening. Like how weather/science/geologist people predict something will happen within a given timeframe, they’re just not sure exactly when and what will set it off.

Welp, I am a super-scientist when it comes to my meltdowns. I know they’re gonna happen, but since I’m a fairly even-keeled person, I don’t know what will set them off. Although when the switch is flipped, it’s usually because of something completely unrelated…that “cap on the pickle-jar” scenario. It’s usually something ridiculous, like the trash bag not fitting on the lid of the trashcan. And rather than pleasantly giving up and buying different trash bags like a normal, sane person, we stretch that sucker until it breaks and the trash can flips over.

“Oh my gosh, why are you crying Lindsey??”

“The f*cking trash bag won’t fit on the f*cking trash can and it’s so stupid and I’m just so sick of this shit!!”

It wasn’t a trashcan that set me off today; it was finding zero parking spots in my neighborhood. Like zilch. All the ones I did find were free because of the street cleaning tomorrow, which was exactly why I was moving my car in the first place. After about 20 minutes of zooming around, I finally gave up and angrily jerked my car from drive to reverse from drive to reverse until I was backed into an open spot that was indeed marked for street cleaning tomorrow. And then I burst into tears.

A few weeks of going from my day job (which I love) to my apartment to do my work (building my business), with too little sleep and too much coffee, already had my poor adrenals on high alert. I wasn’t giving myself enough breathing time.

I love every single thing I am doing; it is a lot of work, but at the same time, it doesn’t feel like it. If I need to stay up until midnight to get my projects done, then so be it! I’m full of passion for what I’m creating and doing. The last few weekends have been great…but filled with work. Again, something I’m totally, 100% willing to do. Another under-lying factor is that I am confident in what I’m doing, but at the same time, I also feel like I have no idea what the hell I’m doing. I just keep believing in myself, taking action and feeling so blessed that I have support from amazing people.

But I could feel the breaking point coming where I would need to release the stress and adrenaline. I had hoped that it would be via a sad movie sob session or maybe even through a longer meditation (in my dreams), but no. Blubbering in my car. And then proudly prancing down Broderick Street to my apartment, face mildly streaked with make up and mascara (it was cute. And one more contributing factor to #thesinglelife.)

So, my meltdown wasn’t flawless. It was gushing, full of snot and clearly non-waterproof mascara. At the same time, it was fantastic and much needed.

But I can tell you what I am flawlessly doing right now is sitting on the floor of my apartment writing this with a spoonful of peanut butter in my mouth (it’s organic with no additives, thank you). This was post-forced-cuddle session with my bird, which, for those of you who know birds, “cuddling” isn’t their forte. He loved it though. I know it.

Anyways, I’m gonna go make dinner.

I know, there were no “action steps to make you life healthier and happier” in this post. But I hope this was a story that provided entertainment and a sense that we all have “those kinds of days.” A relatable “fairytale.”

Lots of love from the health and fitness coach who still stress-eats peanut butter once in a while. Peace out friends.

I have a chronic fear of being stuck. As in, this (relationship, career, home, job, city, environment) is sucking my soul and how will I ever get out of it?

Up until “adulthood” (aka post-graduate life), most of us live in the distinct time frame of a school year. Semesters, quarters, summer breaks…if a class is miserable, you know you’ll be done with it in December. If your roommate and apartment suck, you know you can move at the end of the semester. The chapters are short. There is always an end date.

But after graduation, at least for me, it was a wide-open expansive land of time and I guess it freaked me out more than I thought. I’m always afraid of being “stuck.”

Physically, in a relationship, a career, a city, in a certain environment. It’s not fear of commitment. Hell, I’ll 150% commit to something I believe in and if I think it’s a good thing. But it’s “stuck” in the sense of believing there is no way out of a situation that drains me of energy, positivity, passion and strength. A stagnant, negative relationship. A energy draining, anxiety-filled job. Scares the crap out of me if I ever think of getting stuck in either of those things.

But at the same time I have to laugh at myself. If I ever got myself in those situations, I get the hell out. I’m just that kind of person.

So what am I afraid of?

Being vulnerable enough to stay put for more than 6-months and see what happens? Being at peace and open to whatever the Universe brings me, whether that’s tomorrow or in 5 months?

It’s the no-end-date lifestyle that I need to get used to. In the past, I probably forced those end dates a little too soon and a little too often. I would get restless and scared that I wasn’t going anywhere or that I didn’t know what I wanted to do…so I would try and solve that by moving. Again.

I feel as though part of my restlessness is coming from the false sense of security I get when I move to a different city or job or apartment. I think that by picking up and moving, everything will be figured out. I’ll have left my problems and emotional angst in the last city. I’ll be in the right place…finally. I’ll find my true purpose…finally.

But it doesn’t work like that.

I realize that when I have those emotions to pick up and leave, to travel and explore (if I got a dollar for all the times I went on Hipmunk to find the cheapest plane ticket to Spain, I could pay for the damn ticket), it’s because I’m outwardly searching for answers I can only find on the inside. It’s a sign that I need to explore inwardly to find what I’m attempting to discover while on those daring, romantic adventures. I need to explore what is currently and presently surrounding me. Be present and real with it in that moment.

I’m where I am for a reason. The Universe is giving me all the tools to “find myself” right where I am. So by drastically shifting and moving my environment to “find myself,” I prolong the whole experience. Because finding yourself isn’t really a destination. It’s an everyday journey that we’re continually on. Yes, I believe one day we can discover our higher purposes and innate reason for being, but until then, finding ourself is being present with ourself. Where we are in that moment.

So as romantic as it sounds to “find myself” in a small cafe at the end of a winding cobblestone street in Italy or on a sunny beach in Greece…I’m not going to find myself any more than I would at the coffee shop down my street. Certainly, I can have grand discoveries or epiphanies or light-bulb moments while in those dreamy places, but it’s not going to lead me any closer to that forever elusive thing I’m trying to find.

Maybe if I stop searching, I won’t need to find anything. The answers are always here anyways.

“To be open and aligned in the fifth chakra is to speak, listen, and express yourself from a higher form of communication…Often it’s easier to say what the other person may want to hear instead of speaking your truth. Fear of not being accepted, or judgment from the other may hinder your truthful verbal expression.” via Chopra Center.

I’m on a mission to “speak my truth.” And I share this story in hopes of it helping, supporting or inspiring someone else (because I think a lot of people will be able to relate).

In some areas and aspects of life, speaking my truth comes easily to me. But when it comes to speaking truths to myself and others I love and respect, like *really* being honest with what I want and what is true to me, I can falter. I am fearful of stirring up the waters, of the possible confrontation and judgment. It is safer to people please sometimes.

But someone I greatly respect and trust said to me the other day, “What you are worried about is an illusion.” And in order for others to be ok with my decisions, ideas and actions, I have to be ok with it first. I have to fully accept, love and believe in *my* truth, own it and then that same energy will be spread.

I’m not saying I have anything radical or crazy going on behind the scenes in my life, but this is something I’ve been thinking about and noticing. One of the ways I am “opening up my throat chakra,” (yes, I’m getting woo woo, just go with it) is by journaling. Free writing in the morning. You can free write any time, but morning is the best because it clears the crap out of your mind for the day and it’s also when you’re not toooootally, fully conscious yet, so your brain doesn’t have as many filters holding you back. Just dump all the crap that’s swirling in your brain onto paper. You can write about ANYTHING. Write about how stupid it is to be writing and then a minute later, I guarantee your hand will be scribbling across the page writing out something completely different that you didn’t even know you needed to address.

I did journaling this morning, even though I didn’t want to, and I feel 150% better right now than when I woke up. Seriously, this shit works wonders. JUST TRY IT.

Get a notebook, grab a pen and set your timer for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, you’re done. And yes, you have 10 minutes. That’s like 3 BuzzFeed videos. Do it.

“Sometimes your only available transportation is a leap of faith.” – Margaret Shepard

You have to take that leap of faith out of your comfort zone in order to make any changes in your current situation or to welcome any transformation into your life.

Yes, it can be scary. But I’d rather take a “leap of faith” that turns out to be a dud than walk around the rest of my life wondering “What if…?” At the very least you learn something about you and/or the world, right? Life is an adventure. It’s a story YOU write yourself.

So be daring, you badass and take that leap of faith into the next chapter of your life, you know, the one you *really* want to pursue.

We create these stories in our head that the whole world will collapse if we take that scary next step…like we’ll lose our friends, our parents won’t approve, we will lose our money, we’ll regret the decision the second we’ll make it, we will fail, our birds will hate us….we’ve all had those stories take up valuable real-estate in our minds.

Those are cute stories, but that’s just what they are: STORIES. Not reality. STORIES. Write yourself a new story, one that is filled with lots of success (whatever that word means to YOU), celebration, dreams manifesting, people cheering, an abundance of money and friends, and one where your birdie always loves you. Hold this new story and vision close to your heart and mind as you take that leap of faith.

You’ll realize it wasn’t that scary after all.

If you need support in re-writing your story, talk to me! It’s my passion and purpose to help support badasses like you through these transition, story-rewriting times in your life. I want you to be the best version of YOU. <3 Set up a complimentary 30-minute call with me here to see how I can support you: https://calendly.com/lindseyoconnor

Marketing is a very powerful thing. But being a conscious consumer and being aware of what you put into your body is an even more powerful thing.

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I was at the grocery store last night when I saw these Vitamin Waters on the shelves. I had just finished dinner and a margarita with my friend at a nearby restaurant, so I was feeling a little feisty…thus me actually taking a moment to look at the ingredients in a “Vitamin” Water and seethe silently in the aisle. …Also why I decided to post this *today* and not last night in the moment. 😂

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You would think “Vitamin Water” is relatively healthy. Getting ALL your vitamins in one deliciously flavored bottle. I mean, it’s called “Vitamin Water” and many of them are super-charged with things like acai and pomegranate, “vital-t” and squeezed lemonade. The colors are also pretty snazzy too…

But look BEYOND the label and marketing…this Vitamin Water is one of the furthest things from healthy.

32g of SUGAR

#1 ingredient? Water.

#2 ingredient? Sugar (“crystalline fructose”)

#3 ingredient? Sugar (“cane sugar”)

LESS THAN .5% of …….a long list of “vitamins” and “natural flavors” (aka not natural flavors)

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LESS THAN .5% is the “vitamin” part of this drink.

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The American Heart Association says the MAXIMUM amount of *added* sugars you should eat in a day is 25g for women and 37.5g for men. (Although, in my opinion, you should always keep added sugar intake as low as you can.)

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This drink has 32g of sugar in it. ONE drink. That doesn’t include anything else you are eating that day.

Guys. If you eat a relatively healthy diet throughout the day, get your servings of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, protein and good fats…you will have ALL of these vitamins and SO much more. Bonus? You’re not putting crap in your body.

Ideally, we would avoid things like “Vitamin Water” and everything else with processed sugar. But I know that’s not realistic for many of us (including me!), nor is it fun.

I’m all about BALANCE. Be conscious and informed about what you put in your body. Eat as much fresh, unpackaged foods as possible. Drink your Shakeology. But also enjoy going out for ice cream, having a drink with your friend, baking your significant other’s favorite cookies (maybe with a healthier recipe?? ;) ), eating greasy pizza at 1am on a Friday night. But don’t make it a daily thing.

Health is about balance. Healthy comes from knowing your body and knowing what you put into your body. Be CONSCIOUS of marketing and labeling and understand that you’ll probably want to avoid stuff like “Vitamin Water,” or drink once in a great while.

Hell, make your own “Vitamin Water” by putting fresh fruit slices and berries in your water. I LOVE putting lemon and lime or raspberries in my water.

Eat real, fresh, whole foods and that will be all the “Vitamin Water” your body will need <3

I’ve made some bold, out-of-the-box moves in the last several years. Whether it’s a literal move to different cities/countries for a time or certain personal decisions I’ve made in my life. I felt something in my gut, listened to my intuition, followed it, made it happen and a short whirlwind later, I was living it.

There was this freedom and expansion initially and then there was always that feeling of “Oh. My. God. What the hell was I thinking?!?! Nope. I want to go back. Go back, go back, go back. This is scary and I have NO idea what I’m doing.” (I mean, moving to Spain for 4 months on my own when I knew no one and spoke very little Spanish? Talk about scary, vulnerable shit. LOL)

But then I moved past those feelings. The flailing as I free fall, thinking I’m way over my head. I kept calm and carried on because, in my mind, I had no other choice. Once outside of my comfort zone, going back is not an answer.

Sitting scared shitless outside of my comfort zone was and is my “plan.” Because I know allowing myself to feel that discomfort and work through it, exploring and discovering in that heightened, sensitive state will make living even more magical and real. I’ll learn about my world and myself even more.

I have a fear of being stuck, of waiting for too long and never being able to do something again, whether it’s travel, work, experiences, moves, etc…That I would one day look back and regret I didn’t do something when I had the chance.

This is a good and bad thing I guess.

Although, I’ve had to learn that I need to weed out the “gut feelings” that are actually coming from a place of fear and insecurity, rather than actual intuition. I used to think that by changing my external environment, I’d be able to take care of an internal insecurity or issue. That by moving to a different location, it would magically be gone. Poof. But it only served to suppress whatever issue it was, only to have it come out again in my new environment.

All the moves I’ve made though, whether subtle or mildly drastic, have all shaped the person I am today. Stretched me. Made me grow, personally, professionally, as a friend, daughter, partner and coach. I was forced to face some of my inner demons head on in order to make it through those vulnerable moments. Even if there were scary times at the beginning, I never regretted what I learned. I never regretted my experiences and choices.

Don’t wait for life to happen to you. Or for life to just simply go by. Do something to create the life, environment and changes you want and need. Ones that will support you and your higher purpose and passions. Take action. Go for it. Go. Do. Don’t wait. Life is happening NOW. Enjoy it, because it’s yours.